Haggling and Bargaining - Negotiating a Fair Deal “Now you're getting it. Eleven?! Did I hear you right? Eleven?! This cost me twelve. You want to ruin me ...” - Monty Python (Life Of Brian) In most countries it is customary and expected for a certain amount of haggling to be part of buying and selling goods and services. Items with negotiable prices will vary from region to region, but will generally include taxi fares, guide and porter services, souvenirs, hotel rooms, and anything for sale in a public market. In [...]

Essential Travel Documents - Passports And Visas “I got three passports, couple of visas Don't even know my real name.” - Talking Heads Sometimes, the world is wrapped and bound in bureaucratic red tape. Although many immigration and customs efforts around the world may look like make-work-projects, they are a necessary part of travel. Below you will find some helpful advice on passports and visas, and other travel documents and identification, to minimize complications and delays. Passports and Visas Your passport must be valid for at least [...]

Everything You'll Need - The Ultimate World Travel Packing List “Go small, go simple, go now.” - Lin and Larry Pardey Travel Packing For Long Trips Deciding what to bring on a long trip through various parts of the world can seem daunting. The best rule is to keep it simple and small. No matter where or when you go, there are certain things that you will want, need or will come in very handy during your trip. This is not a comprehensive travel packing list, but a guideline to use [...]

Travel Clothing - What To Wear Over There “Bring half the clothes and twice the money.” - Susan Heller There is a vast array of lightweight, quick-dry and versatile travel clothing available everywhere. For example, pants with zip-off legs double as shorts, and Gore-Tex® (and other similar synthetic textiles) are waterproof, breathable and light. Choose articles of clothing that can be worn comfortably both individually or in layers. Some travelers prefer cotton, which is light and comfortable, but can take longer to dry than other materials. Avoid denim – it is [...]

Travel Money Tips - What Currency To Bring And Where To Keep It “Spend it while you can – money’s contraband. You can’t take it with you when you go. Spend it while you can, before it’s taken from your hand. There’s no free ride in this Carnival World.” - Jimmy Buffett It may not make the world go around, but it certainly helps travelers get around the world. We work hard to save it just so we can turn around and spend it. And the slower we travel, the less of [...]

Keeping You And Your Backpack Safe - Transportation Security Tips “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” - John Augustus Shedd Separation Anxiety By and large, travel is a safe and enjoyable activity and the chances of falling victim to a violent crime are negligible. However, it pays to be aware of the potential for being separated from your belongings and valuables. Travelers are especially vulnerable when they are on the move – when your stuff isn’t secured in a hotel room. Here are [...]